For those who just want to hit the slopes, New Zealand boasts about two dozen ski and snow boarding areas. Some are large commercial operations with grand lodges, extensive ski schools and sophisticated snow-making equipment. Others are smaller club-operated enterprises, with limited facilities and a welcoming attitude to visiting families. Visit www.snow.co.nz for a full list, along with snow reports, forecasts and live webcam footage, plus news, travel and snow gear details.

North Island

Mt Ruapehu hosts the North Island’s two major commercial ski areas, Whakapapa and Turoa. Taupo, the closest major town, is about an hour away. The drive between ski fields is roughly 40 minutes and passes are completely interchangeable for both ski fields.

TUROATuroa is known for its wide, open runs and boasts the largest vertical drop of any resort in Australasia. This season, the carpet lift has been extended for learner skiers and snowboarders.

Ski School: Private and group kids’ lessons are available from age 5 for skiers and age 8 for snowboarders

Babysitting: Licensed on-mountain childcare is available for 2-6 years olds at Turoa Yeti Kids’ Centre

Terrain Park: Every ability is catered for, with beginner, intermediate and two advanced terrain parks

Ski hire: Rent skis, snowboards and clothing on the mountain, or in the nearby service towns of Ohakune or National Park

Accommodation: There is no on-snow accommodation. Ohakune, 17km from Turoa ski area, is the North Island’s major après ski town for a range of accommodation, night life, shops and services. National Park, midway between the two ski areas, also has accommodation

Transport: Matai Shuttles from Ohakune 0800 4 MATAI, though a sealed, two-lane access road makes this one of the more driveable ski roads in NZ

WHAKAPAPAWhakapapa’s Happy Valley offers the largest learner’s area in New Zealand, which is serviced by a dedicated slower-speed chairlift. Compared to Turoa, Whakapapa terrain offers more narrow, steep shutes for intermediate and advanced skiers.

Ski School: Private and group kids’ lessons are available from age 5 for skiers and age 8 for snowboarders

Babysitting: No. But a babysitting referral service is offered

Terrain Park: One intermediate-level terrain park

Ski hire: Rent skis, snowboards and clothing on the mountain or in the nearby service towns of Ohakune or National Park

Accommodation: There is no on-snow accommodation. Whakapapa village, 6km from the ski area, offers a range of accommodation from backpacker to luxury. Additional accommodation is available in National Park and Ohakune.
Transport:

South Island

New Zealand's largest concentration of major commercial ski areas sits around the resort towns of Queenstown and Wanaka. This region is also home to dedicated snowboarding and cross country skiing fields, Snow Park (www.snowparknz.com) and Snow Farm (www.snowfarmnz.com). Both offer on-mountain accommodation. A little further north, an hours drive from Christchurch, Mt Hutt ski field is surrounded by a cluster of
smaller club fields.

MT HUTTMt Hutt is regarded as a laid-back ski field, with wide-ranging terrain. Itâ€™s known for its long snow season, race training facilities and proximity to several club fields.

Location: 2086 m. At the base of the Southern Alps, one hourâ€™s drive from Christchurch International Airport

Transport: Free return transport included in the cost of full day and multiday lift passes and combo packs when departing from the Queenstown Snow Centre, or $10 return per person per day from selected Queenstown accommodation providers

Ski School: Group and private lessons, beginner and achievement packages including lift and rental, Child's Play & Little Rippers for under 5s, Kidsï¿½ Club for 5-14. A high performance centre caters for the more advanced. Kids can do ski or board lessons or a combination.

Babysitting: Yes - two licensed centres offering care from 3 months to 5 years as well as two Kidsï¿½ Clubs for 5 to 14 years. Bookings essential.

Terrain Park: 800m of trails including impressive jumps and rails. There are also two halfpipes - one hosts World Cup events

Ski hire: at the mountain - includes skis and snowboards, boots, poles and executive range as well as clothing and repair service. Dedicated kidsï¿½ ski hire area available with ski school programs.

Accommodation: Bookings are essential to nab one of the 15 on-mountain apartments.

Transport: Shuttles run from both Wanaka and Queenstown daily.

Activities for kids: For children booked into the childcare centres, sleds are available from 2-5 year olds free of charge.

TREBLE CONE
For the first time, Treble Cone is offering free access to lower mountain lifts this winter. Known for its congestion-free slopes, long trails and the largest ski area and skiable terrain in the Southern Alps, it also sports a race training academy.

Ski School: TC Cat Kids Club caters for 4-15 year olds between 10am-3.15pm daily. Snowboarding lessons from age 6. Kids can also take private or two-hour group lessons. Regular visitors can access a range of development programs and a kidsï¿½ camp.

Babysitting: Yes, the childcare centre takes children aged 3 years and up.

Terrain Park: Limited man-made park features but plenty of natural hits and pipes to enjoy. TC is more renowned as a free skiing and riding mountain.

Although we have often gone mountain biking together, he seemed indifferent to the allure of bushwalking. All this changed when I announced one night that we were going “tramping” in New Zealand for four days.